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Privacy tips for Parents and Carers

Smartphones, tablets, laptops, mobile apps and social media; how we interact and communicate with each other has changed a lot. Your skills in rule setting, support, and guidance are vital when it comes to ensuring your kids enjoy positive online experiences and can help them navigate this ever-evolving digital landscape.

What goes on, online?

Your kids’ online world is as much a part of their life as their school or friends, so it is vital that you understand the risks when giving them screen time.

Young people are increasingly exposed to an open and collaborative online culture, which allows them the freedom to explore a vast array of information; but this also opens them up to potential breaches of privacy such as intrusion into their social and family lives, identity theft, unauthorised access to personal information, and cyber-bullying.

So what does this mean?

It means that in this ever-changing digital landscape you need to have an awareness of how to ensure safe practices online and teach your kids how to ‘stay smart online’.

While a parent’s involvement in the safe use of technology should start from a child's first use, parents continue to be a vital influencer when it comes to ensuring that young people practice responsible digital involvement and engage in online activities safely.

Digital education and communication are essential to the safety of your kids online. This will help instil confidence in them.

Help is a click away

The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner has a range of downloadable resources that can assist you in keeping your kids safe online, go to www.esafety.gov.au to find out more information.

Tips for effective privacy online

Remind them never to share their usernames and passwords with anyone;

Check the privacy settings of social networking sites with them to make sure they are only sharing their personal information with their friends;

Educate them about the security risks of sharing too much detail online and to remember ‘stranger danger’;

Get them thinking about the long term effects of their online behaviour – the cost to their reputation with friends, family, and even potential future employers;

Encourage them to THINK before they post; a digital footprint can last forever.